Refrigerating system



sept. 2, 1930.

s. c, wlLLlAMs REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed July 31, 1928 I INVENTOR I'wmw 4 BY A mf D AT To-NEYS Patented sept. 2, 1930 y UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE sAMUEL c. WILLIAMS, OE WEsT ORANGE, NEW lJERSEY, AssIGN'OR ToCOLUMBIA ENT CINEERING a MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Appucation. mea July s1, 192s. sei-:a1No. 296,486.

lThis invention relates to refrigerating systems, and more particularlyconcerns a refrigerating system ofthe absorption type.

In one design vof refrigeration system operating on the absorptionprinciple, a plurality of combined absorber generators are provlded,each comprising a container illed wlth a suitable substance having theproperty of' absorption por occlusion, and means are provided tosuccessively heat these containers. The absorbent material in theabsorber generator containers is charged with a suitable liqueiablerefrigerant in gaseous form, and this gas is expelled or discharged fromeach container in turn. at a high pressure when heat is supplied vto theabsorbent material. The gaseous refrigerant so expelled from theabsorber generator containers is cooled 4and liquefied in asuitablecondenser and is suppliedin liquid form to an evaporator locatedin the refrigerator or other space to be cooled. The liquid refrigerantgasifies in the evaporator, thereby producing thev desired heatabsorbing or refrigerating efect,'and the gaseous refrigerant isconducted to the absorber generators where it is absorbed by theabsorbent material therein. Since the several absorber generators aresuccessively heated', the

absorbent material therein cools between successive heating periods, andthe gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator is absorbed -by thiscomparatively cool absorbent material.`

In a refrigerating system ofcthe type described, suitable heatingVmeans, such as gas burners, are employed to successively heat 'theabsorber generators and thereby distill the refrigerant therefrom.Further, the successive application of heat to the several absorbergenerators as vwell as the control of the system'in accordance with thetemperature of the evaporator lor the refrigerated space is usuallyeffected by electrical or other power consuming devices. It is oftennecessary or desirable to' install refrigerating systems of the typedescribed on railway cars,

l in rural districts or at'other `points Where a supply of illuminatinggas, electricity or other convenient source of power is not vavailable,and known refrigerating systems of this type have proven unsatisfactoryfor such applications in that special means must be prov-ided to furnisha `supply of gas, electricity lor other energy for theoperation thereof.

With the above andother considerations in mind, it is proposed inaccordance with the present invention tol provide a refrigerating systemof the absorption type in which the refrigerant employed comprises aninflammable and liquefiable gas, and in which `the heat employed todistil the refrigerant from the absorbent substanceis obtained byburning aportion of the refrigerant gas which has been evaporated in theevaporator. A further object of the presentl invention resides in theprovision of control means for successively supplying heat to theseveral absorber generators, which control means is operated by the-flowof gas to the heating burners.

lating-control device which derives its operating power from thetemperature variations of the system alone, and requires no source ofelectricity or other auxiliary power yfor its operation'. p

Various other specific objects, advantages `and characteristic featuresof the invention willbe pointed out or will become apparent as thedescription thereof progresses.

In general, the above described objects of the present invention arecarried out by providing a refrigerating system of the absorption typein which a readily liquefiable and inflammable hydrocarbon, such asbutane, is

A still further object of the invention comprises a provision of atemperature regup absorber generators by means of a suitable valve orequivalent means which is operated by means responsive tothe flow ofthegaseous refrigerant to these burners. The valve operating means mayconveniently comprise a gas meter which operates a gas controlling lvalve in such a manner that equal quantities of gas are supplied to`each of the burners in turn. In this manner, the absorber generatorsare successively supplied with equal amounts of heat and equal amountsof absorbed refrigerant are successively distilled l erence will be madeto the4 accompanying drawings, in which the single figure comprises adiagrammatic and simplified representation of a refrigerating systemembodying the present invention, certain of the parts being shown insection.

The refrigerating system disclosed comprises generally a plurality ofabsorber generators 1, A2, A3 and A4, a condenser C, a refrigerantstorage chamber S and an evaporator E. The absorber generators may takeany suitable form, and as shown,'comprise a plurality of interconnectedcontainers 1, having a plurality of passages 2 therebetween throughwhich the heating gases may flow. The containers 1 o-f the absorbergenerators are filled with a suitable substance 3 which has the power ofabsorbing the refrigerant employed. This absorbent substance maycomprise charcoal, diatom-aceous earth, silica gel, or any othermaterial suited to this purpose. The refrigerant employed preferablycomprises a suitable liquefiable and combustible hydrocarbon such asbutane. The absorber generators A1, A2', A3 and A4 are respectivelyprovided with heating means which preferably take-the form of the gasburners B1, B2, B3 and B4', and suitable pilot burners P1, P2, P3 and P1are provided to ignite the gas supplied to the several burners. y Theabsorber generators A1, A2, A3 and A2 are respectively connected throughthe pipes 4,' 5, 6 and 7 and the check valves 8, 9, 1() and 11 to amanifold pipe 12, 'which is in turn connected through a pipe 13 to thecondenser C. The check valves 8, 9, 10 and 11 may take any suitableform, and are arranged to permit the flow of fluid from the absorberlgenerators to the condenser, and toprevent the return flow of the fluidfrom the condenser to the absorber generators. The condenser C may be ofany conventional type,

' and may be cooled by air, water or any other cooling medium. As thesystem is particularly adapted for portable installations, the condensershown is of the air cooled type, and has been conventionally illustratedas a plurality of coils of pipe exposed to the atmosphere. i,

The condenser C is connected through a pipe 14 to va'storage chamber Swherein the liquefied refrigerant is temporarily stored prior to itsintroduction to the evaporator E. Suitable means are preferably providedtopermit the refrigerant to flow from the storage chamber to the'evaporator in liquid form only. In the embodiment disclosed, this meanscomprises a float valve of a conventional type located in the storagechamber and comprising 'a float supported arm 15, pivotally-connected tothe wall of the chamber S at 16, and carrying a valve member 17 adaptedto cooperate with the end ofjan outlet pipe 18 leading to the evaporatorE. When the liquid within the storage chamber S rises above apredetermined level,'the arm 15 is lifted by the float and the valvemember. 17 is retracted from the end of the pipe 18, thereby permittingthe liquid refrigerant to flow from the storage chamber Sto theevaporator E.

The evaporator E is connected by means of a pipe 19 to a manifold pipe20 which is in turn connected to the absorber generators A1, A2,' A3 andA2 through the check valves 21, 22, 23 and 24 respectively. These checkvalves are suitably designed. to permit the flow of the refrigerantfluid from the evaporator E to the absorber generators, and to preventthe reverse flow of this fluid from the absorber generators to theevaporator.

A gas pipe 25, provided with a cut off' valve 26, is connected betweenthe refrigerant return pipe 19 and a gas meter M. If desired, a pressure-regulator valve for limiting the gas pressure to a predetermined valuemay be included in the pipe 25. The gas meter M is connected throughaductD to a distribution valve V which controls the flow of gas to theburners of the several absorber generators. The valve V may `be arrangedin any suitable manner to admit gas to the several burners`successively. As shown, this valve includes a rotary valve gate 27provided with a port 28 communicating with the duct D. The casing 29 ofthe valve V is provided with four equally spaced ports 30, 31, 32 and 33which are respectively connected to the burners B1, B2, B3 andvB4through the pipes 34,. 35, 36 and 37. The valve gate 27 is continuouslyrotated as hereinafter described, and the port 28 thereof successivelycommunicates with the ports 30, 31, 32 and 33 in the valve casing 29,thereby successively supplying gas to the burners B1, B2, B3 and B2. The1 pilots P1, P2, P3 and P4 are continuously supplied with gasthrou'gh apipe 38 connected to the duct D and a manifold pipe 39, as shown. 3

The gas meter M may be of any conventional type and preferably includesa shaft or other means which is rotated at a rate corresponding to therate of flow of gas through the meter. Meters of the type employed inconnection with the distribution of illuminating gas are suitable forthis purpose. The rotary member of the meter is suitably connected,asfor example, through a shaft 40 and speed reducing gearing 41, to

the rotary valve gate 27. In this manner, the

valve gate 27 is turned at a rate proportional to the flowof the gas,and equal quantities of'gas are successivelysupplied to the -severalburners.

The successive distribution of the gas to the several burners B1, B2,and B., may be effected 'by any suitable means other than the rotaryvalve and the operating meter described above, and the invention, in itsbroader aspects, is not limited .fto the use of the `specific disclosed.

A gas control valve G is provided in the duct D, and is suitably,operated in accordance with the temperatureof the evaporator E or thetemperature of the refrigerated spacein which theevaporator is located.I

The valve operating means is preferably designed to operate without theuse of auxiliary power, and in the form shown comprises a thermostat Tconnected through a pipe 42 to a valve operating bellows 43. Thethermostat is filled with a highly volatile liquid having'a highcoefficient of tempera ture expansion and the bellows 43'ispreferablyresilient and actsto normally bias the valve Gr toward its closedposition. When the temperature of the evaporator E or the refrigeratedspace rises above a predetermined value, the liquid within thethermostat T volatilizes and expands the bellows 43,

thereby opening the gas control valve G. A small by-pass or-vent 44 isprovided around the valve G, and a small quantity of 'gas iscontinuously supplied to the valve V through this vent regardless of theoperationof the thermostatic control means.

vThe operation of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention'will now be described. With the gas distribution valve V in y theposition shown, the gasilied butane .or

other inflammable refrigerant from the evaporator E Hows through thepipes 19 and 25, the gas meter M, the duct D,"the valve G (which isassumed to be open), the valve ports 28 and 31 and the pipe 35 to theburner B2 associated with the absorber generator A2. The gas thussupplied to the burner B2 is ignited by the pilot burner P2 vand theabsorber generator A2 is thereby heated. As the temperature of theabsorbent material 3 within the absorber generator A2 is thus increased,the refrigerant in gaseous form is distilled therefrom and flowsthrough-the pipe 5, the check valve 9 and the'pipes 12 and 13 to thecondenser C. Due to the heat supplied to the absorber generatorAz, thegaseous refrigerant is expanded and enters the condenser C underconsiderable pressure, andy when cooled in' the condenser, therefrig'erant is liquefied and flows into the storage chamber S in liquidform. lVhen the liquid `refrigerant in the storage chamber S has risenabove'a predetermined level, the float valve opens, and the liquidrefriggas distribution controlling means the evaporator through the pipe19 and enters the manifold pipe 20. A certain portion of this gasiliedrefrigerant also passes through the pipe 25 to the meter M and to theburners as described above. I

Since the burners B3, B4 and B1 associated with thel absorber generatorsA3, A4 and A1 are extinguished, the absorbent ysubstance I 3 withinthese absorber generators is comparatively cool, and the gaseousrefrigerant in the manifold pipe 20 is rapidly absorbed by thismaterial. The check valve 22 prevents the flow of the gaseousrefrigerant dis-` l ltilled from the absorber generator A2 to the otherabsorber generators A3, A'4 and A1, and the check valves 10, 11 and 8prevent the flow of the gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator E to thecondenser C.

As the gasified refrigerant flows in the manner described to thel burnerB2, the meter lvl operates and turns the valve V in thedireotionindicated by the arrow, and after a predetermined volume ofrgas has been de-v livered to the burner B2, the port 28 of the valve BIis moved yout of registry with the port 21 and into registrywith theport 22, thereby cutting olf the flow of gas to the burner B2 andsupplying gas to the yburner B3 through the pipe 26. The burner B2 isthus extinguished and the burner B3 is ignited Aby `its 4pilot burnerP3. The absorbentmaterial 3 within the absorber generator A3 is nowheated and the refrigerant contained therein is distilled therefrom,liquefied in the condenser C and delivered to the' evaporator E throughthe storage chamber S, the gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator Ebeing simultaneously absorbed by the absorbent material within the`absorb- 'er generators A4, A1 and A3.

The operation of the system continues in'v the manner dcscribed,-the gasbeing succes'- sively supplied to the several burners and therefrigerant being thereby successively distilled from the severalabsorber generators, and the evaporated refrigerant being absorbed bythe unlieated absorber' generators.

The port 28 of the, gas distribution valve V is preferably `designed toadmit gas to-one of the burners B just as it cuts olf the flow of gastothe preceding burner. If desired, suitable means maybe provided toquickly move the valve gate 27 during -a portion of its travel andtherebyrapidly shift the port 28 from one outlet port to the next. Theport 28 may also be arranged to completely sol cut off the How of gas toone burner before .y

and the rotation ofv the valve gate 27 while the gas is cut E from themain burners. The rate 'o'f operation of the system is regulated by thethermostatic device T and 5 the gas control valve G. As long as thetemperature of the evaporator or the refrigerated 'space remains above apredetermined value, -a sufficient quantity of the volatile liquidcontained in the thermostat T is mainm-tained gasied to hold the bellows43 ex- .l panded and thus keep the valve Gr opened. When thetemperatureof the evaporator or the refrigerated space falls below a predeterminedvalue, the gaseous fluid in the thermostat vT liquefies and the bellows43 contracts closing the' valve Gr and thereby limiting the; iow of-ga'skto the amount passed by the by-p'ass orifice or vent 44. Thus when thetemperature of the refrigerated space is suiiiciently lowered, thesupply of gas to the burners is cut down to a very low rate, and only asmall quantityI of refrigerant is distilled from the absorbergenerators. This small quantity ofdistilled refrigerant maintains areduced flow .of liquid refrigerant to vthe evaporator, and theevaporation of this refrigerant supplies sufficient gas to keep thepilot burners ignited and to supply one of the main burners when thevalve G is again opened. In' other words, the continuous g roperation ofthe burners ata low rate maintains a reserve supply of gas for the pilotburners P in the main burners B.

The stora e chamber S is preferably of 35 such a size t at sufficientrefrigerant can be Astored therein to' maintain the system in' operationfor an extended period. The outlet pipe 18 of the storage chamber S isof such a size as to limit the How of liquid refriger- 40 ant to theevaporator to a rate corresponding to that re uired to maintain properrefrigeration un er the most adverse conditions to which the system issubjected. When it is necessary to replenishthe supply of refrigerant,this may be done by introducing the refrigerant to the storage chamberin liquid forni, or by introducing the gaseous ref-rlp;- erant totheabsorber generators.

It will bereadily apparent that thel pres 5o ent invention whenapplied'to an absorption system provides many advantageous features.

Since the fuel employed to cause the distillation of the refrigerantcomprises the gasified refrigerant itself, the system is entirelyselfcontained and may be conveniently operated on railway cars, 1n ruraldistricts or at otherpoints where a supply of gas or other heating fuelis not readily available. It should be noted that the.refrigerantliquidy is first G0 gasied in the evaporator t'o produce a re-`frigerating effect and subsequently supplied ..to the burners. Thusacertain amount of 'the refrigerantis successively employed forrefrigeration and heating purposes.

(The gas meter M comprises a convenient quickly ascertain means foroperating the gas distribution valve V without the use of auxiliarypower, and further indicates the amount of refrigerant gas consumed bythe burners. By referring to the gas meter, the operator can exactlyhowmuch refrigerant gas has been consumed to provide heat for the operationof the system, and can vthereby determine the amounts of refrigerantwhich must be periodically introduced to the system to ensure thecontinued operation thereof.

Although the invention has been described as applied to a singleabsorption refrigerating system, and as lincluding certain specificoperating and control means, it should be clearly understood that theinvention is not limited in its scope to the particular system or to theparticular form of device disclosed. For example, the successivedistribution of the burner gas to the several absorber generator burnersmay be effected by means operated by an auxiliary source of power or bythe flow of the refrigerant to or from the absorber generators, or any,other suitable means vmay be employed for this purpose. Further, theinvention is not limited to the use of gaseous refrigerant as a fuel ina refrigerating system of the particular type described, but in itsbroader aspects, includes .l the application of this idea to all formsof refrigerating systems and all other applications which fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: j

1. In a refrigerating system of the absorption type,` an absorber forabsorbing a gasiied refrigerant means for heating said absorber tovdistil the gasiiied refrigerant therefrom and means for supplying aportion of the refrigerant so distilled ,from said absorber to vsaidheating means.

2. In a refrigeratng system of the absorption type, a container, anabsorbent material, within said container for absorbing a gasi- .iedrefrigerant, means for heating said absorbent material to expel thegasiiied refrigeranttherefrom, :means for liquefying the gaseousrefrigerant so expelled, an evaporator for receiving and gasifying theliquefied refrigerant, and means for supplying a portion of the gasifiedrefrigerant from said (evaporator to said means'for heating theabsorbent material.

3. In a refrigeratin system of the type in which a liquefied rerigerant'is gasified in an evaporator and absorbed in gaseous forln byan absorbent substance, means for heating said absorbent substancetodistil the gasiied refrigerant therefrom, and means for supplying 'aportion of the gaseous refrigerant v from ythe evaporator to saidheating means.

v4. In a refrigerating system, an evapora tor in which a combustibleliquefied refrigeri ant is gasified to absorb heat, means for absorbingthe refrigerant gasified in the evaporator and means operated by aportion of the refrigerant gasified in said evaporator for causing thereturn of the refrigerant from said absorbing means to said' evaporator.

5. In a refrigerating system, an evaporator in Which a combustibleliquefied refrigerant is gasified to absorb heat, means for absorbingthe refrigerant gasified in the evaporator and means operated by thecombustion of a portion ofthe refrigerant gasified in said evaporatorfor expelling said refrigerant from said absorbing means.

6. In a refrigerating system, means for evaporating a refrigerant toproduce a heat absorbing effect, a plurality of devices for absorbing*the refrigerant gasiliedV in said evaporating means, a plurality ofseparate means for heating each of said absorbing devices, and meansfor'successively supplying a portionof the gasified vrefrigerant fromsaid evaporating meansto each Aof said heating means.

7. In a refrigerating system of the absorption type, a plurality of.absorbers for absorbing a gasified refrigerant, a plurality of heatingmeans for separately heating each of said absorbers to expel thegasified refrigerant therefrom, means for liquefying the refrigerantexpelled from said absorbers, an evaporator for receiving and gasifyingthe liquid refrigerant, and means for successively sup.

plying a portion of the gasified refrigerant from said evaporator toeach of' saidheating means.

8. In a refrigerating system ofthe absorption type, a plurality ofabsorbers for absorbing a gasifled refrigerant, -separate means forheating each of said absorbers to distil the gaseous refrigeranttherefrom, means for liquefying the gaseous refrigerantlso distilled, anevaporator for receiving and gasiq fying. the liquefied refrigerant andmeans operated by the flovv of gaseous refrigerant in said system forsuccessively supplying a portion of the refrigerant gasified in saidevaporator to each o f said separate heating means. s

9. In a refrigerating system, an evaporator leffect which consists 1ncontinuously gaslfyin Which a liquefied refrigerant is gasied, aplurality of absorbers for absorbing the gasifled'refrigerant from saidevaporator, separate burners for heating each of said absorbers todistil the gaseous refrigerantvtherefrom, means for liquefying thegaseous re- -frigerant so distilled, means for returning saidrefrigerantin liquid form to said evaporator, means for successively supplying aportion ofthe gaseous refrigerant from said evaporator to' said separateburners, and

' Vmeans operated by the flow of refrigerant to said burners forcontrolling the successive application of the refrigerant to theseparateburners.

10. In a refrigerating system, an evaporator in which a liquefiedrefrigerant is' gasified, a plurality of absorbers for absorbing saidrefrigerant in liquid form to said evaporator, means for successivelysupplying a portion of the gaseous refrigerant from said evaporator tosaid separateburners and means operated in accordance with the amount ofgaseous refrigerant so supplied for controlling the successiveapplication of the gaseous refrigerant to theseparate burners. y

l1. In a refrigerating system, an evaporator in which a liquefiedrefrigerant is asified, a plurality of absorbers for absor ing thegasied refrigerant from said evaporator, separate burners for heatingeach of said absorbers to distil the gaseous refrigerant therefrom,means for liquefying the gaseous refrigerant so distilled, means forreturning said refrigerant in liquid form to said evaporator, meansoperated by the ilovvof the gaseous refrigerant in the system forsuccessively supplying a portion of the gaseous refrigerant from saidevaporatorI to lsaid separate burners, and means for controlling therate offlovv of the gaseous refrigerant to said burners in accordancewith the temperature of said evaporator.v 7 .12. A method of producing'arefrigerating eHect which consists in evaporating a liquefiedcombustible fluid, absorbing said evaporated fluid :in an absorbentsubstance, and

vheating said absorbent substance to drive ofi' portion of theevaporated refrigerant, and l again liquefying the refrigerant sodistilled. 14. A method of producing a refrigerating ing a liquefiedcombustible refrigerant, successively absorbing said refrigerant in aplurality of absorbers, successively supplying equal amounts of heat tothe absorbers by the combustion of a portion of the gasiied refrigerantto distil the absorbe refrigerant therefrom, and liquefying therefrigerant sodistilled.

15. lA method of producing a refrigerating effect which consists incontinuously gasifying a liquefied combustible refrigerant,`successively absorbing said refrigerant in a plurality of' absorbers,successively supplying equal amounts of heat to the absorbers bv thetherefrom,

combustion of a portion of the' gasified refrigerant to distil theabsorbed refrigerant liquefying the refrigerant so distilled and.controllin the application of heat to the several absor ers inaccordance with d the iow of gasiied refrigerant.

16. A method of producing a refrigerating effect which consists'incontinuously gasifying a liqueed combustible refrigerant, successi'velyabsorbing said refrigerant in a plurality of absorbers, successivelysupplying equal amounts of heat to the absorbers y the combustion of aportion of the gasiied refrigerant to distil the absorbed refrigeranttherefrom, liquefying the refrigerant so distilled and controllin theapplication of heat to the several absor ers in accordance with the loWof gasied refrigerant to the absorber heating means.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

SAMUEL C. WILLIAMS.

